What should I do with the nakago of newly made sword?

[Nobody]

What should I do with the nakago of newly made sword? I would like to ask your professional opinions.

 

I know the importance of the rust on a nakago. Generally, the rust should be kept properly. However, if the sword is newly made, until when and how should the nakago be kept clean?

 

As the sword is newly made, the nakago is naturally clean now. (Actually in this case, it is not a katana but a kogatana which I purchased lately.)

 

Which policy should be taken?

1) leave it as it is, and do not worry about it.

2) maintain the nakago clean and take care not to get rusty,

3) do something on it to develop stable good rust,

4) others?

 

 

BTW, several years ago, I asked a polisher about the same question, and he said that newly made nakago should be kept clean for about 100 years. I am unsure now that the opinion is right or not.

[Brian]

Nice kogatana Koichi. Is it in shirasaya?

 

It is a good and difficult question to answer. I would personally avoid any artificial methods of promoting a patina. In this case, the kogatana was made purely as art, not as an accompanyment to a working katana. Therefore I would look at basic maintenance too keep it in good order and let nature run its course. I think keeping it in the shirasaya might allow the patina to develop over a few 100 years, but this should be done the natural way, and not be promoted by any additional chemicals or treatment. I guess I would handle it (the nakago) over time, and if natural rust forms slightly, I would wipe it off with a dry cloth, and maybe a drop of oil on the fingertips rubbed lightly. Eventually the handling should promote a natural patina, but maybe not in your lifetime

Can't back this up with any references though, it is just my gut feel.

What are the other opinions on this? What do the modern swordsmiths say about this?

 

Brian

[Nobody]

Thanks Brian, the kogatana is in shirasaya.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

What do the modern swordsmiths say about this?

 

A good question.

Once I've posted on another board the same question after having read

"The Art of the Japanese Sword as taught by the experts" by

Kunihira Kawachi and Masao Manabe.

 

At page 61 Kunihira Kawachi clearly shows and states how to apply

the oil to Nakago too, with appropriate amount (not too much but

not too few) and with a different clothe then the one used for the

blade. The sword seems one of theirs, so newly made.

Avoiding to mention the usuall "I know everything" that addressed

me to a link on how maintain a Japanese sword where is shown how

to use the remnant of oil on you fingers to very sligtlhy oil an old

nakago, the thread resulted in an agreement (?) that old nakago with

already well-established patina should be preserved with a slight oiling

as the "finger remnants" matter, but that new or not so old Nakago should

be left get rusted and patinated.

 

At the end of the matter : if the tang is old enough to risk a damage to

important features as yasurime or Mei or other inscriptions/details with

potential further corrosion, let's apply a very small amount of oil.

If the Tang is new or still healty, avoid oil.

 

I'm just quoting the result of that thread, not stating my personal

opinions or challenging somebodyelse one. :D

[Ted Tenold]

I'd offer that the real goal is to prevent "preventable" corrosion and maintain the sword as a whole, not just the polished surfaces. Steel will do as it will over time. Handling will obviously promote the nakago to take on staining or even growing rust. The key is that the maintenance of the sword is to lengthen it's life. Many collectors oil old nakagos as well in an effort to not only keep new rust from starting, but to also protect the patina that has already come from centuries of age. Not all do it though, so like everything in Nihonto, there's no hardfast rule.

 

The nakago being no less a part of the studiable parts of the whole sword, it should not be neglected, and effort to maintain it should be made in the interest of lengthening it's life. Who wouldn't want to see magnificent examples of old swords when they were received by the original owner? What could be learned from them? Below is an example of a sword that displays a nearly pristine nakago. You will note that the mei dates this work to November of 1859. This is an absolutely genuine sword with no doubts as to it's provinance. It is a family heirloom that arrived in the U.S. shortly after it was made. When I first saw this sword, I thought it was a gendaito until I read the signature, then I thought it was gimei until I learned it's provinance. The actual blade had some condition issues and it was subsequently repolished......only the second time it had ever been touched on stones. The main reason for it's conditon was that the nakago remained reletively untouched for literally decades with the rest of the blade had been examined. I'm not sure the shiratsuka had ever been removed from the sword until I saw it. It resided (and still does) in a dry climate.

 

If oiling and wiping promotes the conditional life of the nakago, it's to at least hinder or offset the effect of handling. If the sword is left untouched and in an optimal climate it will maintain as conditions allow. Humidity, ambient temperature and environment will vary of course. I believe that if a sword is maintained, it should be reasonably maintained in it's *entirety* *depending* on the particular demands of those conditions of environment and handling. I think we can all make a judgement between preservation and neglect. If prudent maintenance of the nakago shows that it still is turning color, staining, etc., that to me would just be the natural "tincture of time" that is happening and trying to correct that would then fall into the alteration catagory. One certainly should be careful about wanting to see new things "age". Let's face it, we'll never get to see a new sword's nakago with that lovely velvety patina it will have in 700 years, any more than we'll see a pristine patina free Awataguchi Hisayuki nakago the day it left the forge.

 

I guess what I'd say is; let time work, but try not to interfere with it by either maintaining when not needed or neglecting maintainance when prudent.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Great post Ted.

[Nobody]

Thanks for your thoughtful opinions. I have been thinking of this theme. I basically agree with Ted about the real goal that is to prevent “preventable†corrosion and maintain the sword as a whole.

 

However, I think that the actual meaning of the real goal could be varied for each person’s taste and sense of value. If you (and your successors) really want your new sword including its nakago to be clean for hundreds of years, it may be possible at least technically with some oil and proper environmental control. Such a sword will be a valuable treasure after hundreds years and the real goal will be almost achieved. That may be an ideal answer for some people who love perfect integrity. The sword will always shine as if it were made yesterday. But I believe that there are also other people who love reasonably well maintained sword with healthy natural aging. That aging cannot be attained by too perfect maintenance. I do not know the optimal solution but it may exist between perfect care and neglect.

 

As for patina, I do agree with Brian saying not to promote any artificial treatment. But I also think that the patina is favorable for a sword not for appreciation or kantei but for chemical protection of its nakago. Although I do not know well about steel characteristics, I think that the healthy rust (maybe triiron tetraoxide) is a desirable product to protect the nakago. To develop such rust may also be the way to the real goal, though that cannot be achieved through too perfect maintenance.

 

Practically, as a man cannot be always perfect in his maintenance activity, a sword will get old naturally within a hundred years and I do not have to worry about that.

[Ed]

Like Ted said there is no hard fast rule, therefore it is controversial with proponents of both sides.

 

I personally am a proponent of oiling the nakago, both old and new. Again along the lines of what Ted said, I believe in preserving the entire sword, not only the polished areas. It is a fact that steel will oxidize or rust if unprotected, it would seem prudent to prevent this if possible.

 

The NBTHK sword "care and maintenance" guide states, "It is a good idea to apply oil to the surface of the tang with one's fingers. however, an excessive amount of oil must also be avoided here."